Triceratops baseball claims OCCAC Division II Championship in game one win over Bryant & Stratton

SOLON, Ohio (athletics.tri-c.edu) – The Cuyahoga Community College Triceratops baseball team (29-15-1, 13-3 OCCAC) claimed the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Division II Championship with a 9-5 game one win over Bryant & Stratton College (Ohio) (25-27, 12-4 OCCAC), May 2.

The win and conference championship lock the Triceratops into hosting a first round series in the upcoming NJCAA Region XII Tournament, May 7-8. Seeds and opponents for the tournament will not be finalized until Monday morning.

In the small confines of Cisar Field at Solon Community Park, the Triceratops offense feasted. Outfielder Nash Driedger (Fr./Windsor, Ontario, Canada) was a main beneficiary, going 4-for-6 across both games with a home run, a triple, and five RBIs. Catcher Nathan Hill (So./Medina, Ohio/Toledo) also enjoyed the short porches, going yard in each of the games.

Also staying hot was Pat Farrell (So./Cleveland, Ohio), who kept his streak of reaching base safely since his return from injury, April 25, intact and at seven games.

On the mound, both starting pitchers, Keagan Gilbride (So./Akron, Ohio) and David Moore (So./Houston, Texas/Akron) navigated the short fences well, allowing just five earned runs total as each crossed 4.0 innings pitched to give the offense time to work.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game One

• Tri-C kicked off the game in a huge way with a three-run blast from Jackson Boles setting the Triceratops up with a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game one.
• Gilbride went straight to work, sitting the top of the Bobcats' order down 1-2-3 in the home half of the first.
• The next two innings evolved into a pitcher's duel between Gilbride and Bryant & Stratton's Connor Stefan, with only two combined hits allowed over the next two innings.
• That is, until Driedger doubled to center field, driving in Brock Miller (So./Willard, Ohio) to put the Triceratops up 4-0 in the top of the fourth.
• Bryant & Stratton was finally able to muster some offense against Gilbride in the home half of the fourth, with a passed ball scoring the Bobcats' first run and an RBI groundout by Adam Kidder cutting the score to 4-2.
• For the second consecutive game, Hill blasted a home run against Bryant & Stratton, this time at Cisar Field, giving Tri-C a 5-2 lead in the top of the fifth.
• The offensive fireworks continued in the home half of the fifth, with Gavin McLain doubling and Nico Reach hitting a single to bring the Bobcats within one run, 5-4.
• As they've done so many times this season, the Triceratops responded with a big inning. Driedger earned two more RBIs with a triple to center and a sacrifice fly by Brayden Bortnick (Fr./Mentor, Ohio) put Tri-C up 8-4 in the top of the sixth.
• Farrell launched the Triceratops' third home run of the game in the top of the seventh, taking a 9-4 lead.
• Bryant & Stratton would attempt the comeback against relievers Mason Wolf (So./Eastlake, Ohio) and Kyle Figuray (So.), scoring one run in the final frame before Tri-C captured the 9-5 win, OCCAC crown, and NJCAA Region XII home field advantage.

Game Two

• Fighting for potential seeding, Bryant & Stratton came out hot in game two against Moore, scoring two runs in the first inning off a double and sacrifice fly.
• The Bobcats' starting pitcher, Isaiah Tilse, also came out hot, facing one over the minimum number of batters through two innings.
• Moore and Tilse settled in after the first inning fireworks, as has been typical throughout the series. Two more Bobcats runs would score in the bottom of the fourth to break the stalemate and give Bryant & Stratton a 4-0 lead.
• Driedger continued his hot day at the plate, trying to jump start the offense with a solo shot in the fifth to put the Triceratops on the board, 4-1.
• An error behind the plate in the home half of the fifth put the Bobcats up, 5-1.
• Hill led off the sixth with a solo homer of his own as the Triceratops looked to power their way back into the game. Driedger again put Tri-C on the board later in the inning with an RBI double that scored Farrell and cut the Bobcat lead to 5-3.
• The home half of the sixth saw Bryant & Stratton add an insurance run courtesy of a sacrifice fly, putting the Bobcats up by the final 6-3 line.

UP NEXT

The Triceratops will head into the postseason for the first round of the NJCAA Region XII Tournament, hosting a doubleheader at Ron Mottl Field, May 7. Game three of the best-of-three series, if necessary, will be May 8. Times will be announced closer to the event.

Tri-C's opponent has not yet been determined, but the Triceratops will likely slot as the number three seed in the 10-team bracket.

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